Movsar Evloev tells Alexander Volkanovski 'If you want to be knocked out, I'll do that'

The featherweight champion had dared his unbeaten challenger to "try and take me down" before their title fight in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Movsar Evloev told Alexander Volkanovski he would knock him out if the featherweight champion wanted to keep their fight standing, after Volkanovski dared him to "try and take me down" at the UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Volkanovski was asked about Evloev's wrestling and made clear where he wants the fight to happen. "Come bring your best game," he said. "Try and take me down. It's going to be forced on the feet because I'm going to make it be on the feet."

He said Evloev would not be able to fall back on his wrestling. "He's never been forced to fight on the feet, so he can't panic shoot. He's gonna have to panic punch," Volkanovski said. "Let's see how dangerous he is on his feet."

Evloev answered later in the same press conference. "I can solve everything," he said. "Okay, no problem. If you want to be knocked out, I'll do that." He added: "With all respect to champ, I can do anything I want. And I'll prove it."

The unbeaten Evloev (20-0) challenges Volkanovski for the featherweight title in the UFC 333 main event at the Etihad Arena on Saturday, live on TNT Sports, with the pair expected in the Octagon at about 9pm UK time. Every UK time for the card is in our UFC 333 start time guide.

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